Aizawl, Jul 8 : Mizoram Finance Minister Lalsawta today presented a second vote-on-account for three months from August in the State Assembly for not getting directions from the Centre on the share ratio of Centrally-Sponsored Schemes, among other reasons.

Lalsawta said he was compelled to seek the second vote on account amounting to Rs 1,823.81 crore as the State government was yet to receive instructions from the ministries concerned about the ratio of share-holding pattern of various Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS).

“Even though the recommendation of the 14th Finance Commission was in favour of State governments by increasing the share in taxes from 32 per cent to 42 per cent, the discontinuance of the Special Category Status of the North Eastern states has caused insurmountable financial problem to Mizoram and other states of the region, as increase in the states’ sharing ratio with the Central government in respect of CSS has been indicated by the Centre,” he said.

Being a resource-deficient State, Mizoram might not be in a position to take up certain CSS which the State could somehow manage with some difficulty earlier, he said.

The NE states, including Mizoram, had submitted to the Centre a joint and common cause demanding restoration of the privileges of a Special Category State, he said, adding that the states of the region were still waiting for a positive response from the Central government.

The Finance Minister regretted that the amount of fund to be devolved to the State government from the North Eastern Council (NEC) and the Ministry of DoNER, which were part of the plan size determinants, were also yet to be ascertained.

Tributes paid: The Assembly today paid rich tributes to former State Chief Minister Brig Thenphunga Sailo and former legislator Lalnghenga. Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla termed their demise as an irreparable loss to the Mizo people.